Fuel-supply means for explosive-engines.



Ho. $624583. E i PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904. A. A. LOW. FUEL SUPPLY MEANS FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5. 1903.

'NO MODEL UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

P TENT @rricn,

FUEL-SUPPLY MEANS FOR EXPLOSlVE-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,483, dated A g 16, 1904. Application filed August 5, 1903. Serial No. 168,255- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ABBo'r AUGUSTUS Low, a citizen of the United States, residing at Horseshoe, St. Lawrence county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Supply Means for Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification suflicient to enable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to explosiveengines in which alcohol-vapor is used on account of its comparatively low explosive temperature either to eifect the starting of the engine or permanently in connection with the usual charge of hydrocarbon explosive; and the novelty resides in the peculiar construction and arrangement of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the parts essential in carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the alcohol dripcup.

S is the cylinder of the engine, and P the piston reciprocating therein.

C is the combustion-chamber, provided with the usual electric sparking attachment E for effecting the preliminary explosions of the engine.

I is an injector of well-known construction for introducing hydrocarbon vapor into the combustion-chamber C after the engine has been started by the explosion of alcohol-vapor therein, as hereinafterset forth, 6 being a valve in the supply-pipe for controlling the supply of hydrocarbon.

A is an alcohol drip-cup (shown in section at A of the drawings) provided with a needle-valve a, by which the drip is controlled.

B is a stand-pipe, upon the, upper end of which the drip-cup A is mounted, perforated inclined partitions Z) being interposed in the path of the alcohol to insure the spread and distribution of the latter. The stand-pipe B is connected by a lateral branch B with the automatic inlet-valve V, opening into the pas sage 1;, through which the vapor passes into the cylinder S.

represents a series of perforated trays arranged in the lower part of the stand-pipe B for admitting air thereto when desired, a valve or damper 6 being provided, by means of which the lower portion of the stand-pipe may be closed.

R is a reservoir containing compressed air, which is supplied thereto by means of a pump R or equivalent means. A supply-pipe 9 extends from the reservoir R and terminates in a nozzle '1", which projects into the stand-pipe B opposite to the lateral passage B, a valve r being interposed in the pipe for the purpose of shutting off or regulating the supply of air under pressure.

The operation of the apparatus is substantially the same as set forth in application Serial No. 155,825, filed May 6, 1903, with this exception, that the compressed air takes up and completely atomizes the alcohol prior to its introduction into the combustion-chamber, at the same time supplying it with an excess of oxygen, so that its combustion within the engine is insured. After the engine has been started by means of the combined charge of fresh air and alcohol the hydrocarbon-injector I may be started and the supply of, alcohol shut off, if desired, or both the alcohol and hydrocarbon charges may be used simultaneously, if preferred. WVhen the alcohol is shut ofif, the damper 5 is opened, as well as an auxiliary damper 6* in the stand-pipe opposite the lateral passage B, thereby admitting air 4 to the combustion-chamber to facilitate the combustion of the hydrocarbon introduced through the injector I.

In order to increase the vaporizing effect of the compressed air as related to the alcohol and also increase the rapidityof combustion, I in some cases heat the compressed air prior to its introduction into the stand-pipe B, and

of means auxiliary to the main fuel-supply, for

supplying alcohol, means for insuring its spread and distribution, means for introduc- IO ing' air under pressure at a point intersecting the flow of the alcohol prior to its admission to the combustion-ehamber, and means for admitting air in the direction opposite to the flow of the alcohol and at right angles to the introduction of the compressed air.

ABBOT AUGUSTUS LOW lVitnesses:

D. W. GARDNER, FRANK E. RoAoH. 

